DIA history

| DIA history

The Early days

The DIA represents a very unique segment of the law enforcement community – District Attorney Investigators. These investigators are employed by the five county District Attorneys and the Special Narcotics Prosecutor.

We trace our roots back to Thomas E. Dewey’s handpicked “Rackets Busters” of the 1930s that successfully tackled organized crime and corruption in New York City. Today, there are more than 300 members Citywide. These highly skilled investigators are all police officers. We are known as Detective Investigators or Rackets Investigators. Typically, an Investigator will have more than 20 years of law enforcement experience. Many began their careers working for the NYPD or other local police agencies.

Recognized as experts in our field, we can either work independently or alongside members of the NYPD, the State Police, FBI, Homeland Security, or the DEA. Unlike detectives in a local police department, we report directly to the District Attorney, the top law enforcement officer of the County. Over the years our role has expanded greatly. We are no longer just liaisons to the law enforcement community, but cutting edge investigators. D.A. Investigators regularly work cold case homicides, organized crime, narcotics, sex crimes, complex frauds, and official corruption cases.

As the investigative arm of the District Attorney, we remain EVER VIGILANT in the detection and prevention of all criminal activity in our communities.

Shaprio ‘Modest’ at Court Hearing. New York, New York: Jacob (Gurrah) Shapiro, called New York’s public enemy No.1 by District Attorney Thomas Dewey, is shown (left) modestly shielding his face from the camera as he arrived for a hearing at supreme court today. Gurrah was a fugitive for a year after he skipped $10,000 bail with Louis Buchalter in connection with the fur racket. He faces 256 years in a prison on combined federal and state charges and is also under suspicion in connection with the murder of William Snyder, former president of an east side trucking union.